sailing & diving: Abacos or St Martin?
 

My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We
had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the Bahamas,
or St Martin.

St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We can
sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

The diving looks more promising in Bahamas. However, the charter companies
severely limit the cruising grounds to just a small radius.

How is the sailing in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
Bahamas?

Any thoughts on these choices as they relate to quality of diving and
quality of sailing?

I've learned that there really are a limited number of places where you can
combine great diving with great sailing. I'm beginning to really appreciate
my home waters, though they are chilly (So Cal Channel Islands).

Thanks,

Brien

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
ink.net...
My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We
had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the
Bahamas,
or St Martin.

St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We can
sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

The diving looks more promising in Bahamas. However, the charter
companies
severely limit the cruising grounds to just a small radius.

How is the sailing in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
Bahamas?

Any thoughts on these choices as they relate to quality of diving and
quality of sailing?

I've learned that there really are a limited number of places where you
can
combine great diving with great sailing. I'm beginning to really
appreciate
my home waters, though they are chilly (So Cal Channel Islands).

Thanks,

Brien


Have you considered Belize? I know that's not an answer to your question...
beautiful place... inexpensive, easy to get to, etc.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Have you considered Belize? I know that's not an answer to your
question...
beautiful place... inexpensive, easy to get to, etc.


Yes, we researched it a little. It certainly has a reputation as a premier
dive spot.

But how are the sailing grounds? I know it's very shallow and catamarans
are preferred (as is the case in Abacos). I didn't get the impression it
was very popular for sailing but I have no first-hand knowledge and may not
have searched in the right places for info.

Thanks.

Oh great, I just read the thread below about the grounding in Belize and the
ransacking! Certainly doesn't entice me to sail there. What was the line
from the thread? Something like "don't stop in Belize unless you're looking
for crack."

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Oh great, I just read the thread below about the grounding in Belize and
the
ransacking! Certainly doesn't entice me to sail there. What was the line
from the thread? Something like "don't stop in Belize unless you're
looking
for crack."



Not sure which thread you're speaking of. It's a great place to sail, but
you're right cats are preferred. We never had any problems and never ran
across anyone who did. Everyone we met was very friendly. The only negative
experience at all was when we stopped in Belize City, which is a pit.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Thanks. I'm sure you're right. In fact, my cousin has been there for
diving many times and loves it.

The thread I was referring to is titled "Boater Tragedy in Belieze" (sic),
dated June 27. There's a link to a story about a cruiser that recently ran
aground there. His yacht was ransacked when he went for help.

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Thanks. I'm sure you're right. In fact, my cousin has been there for
diving many times and loves it.

The thread I was referring to is titled "Boater Tragedy in Belieze" (sic),
dated June 27. There's a link to a story about a cruiser that recently
ran
aground there. His yacht was ransacked when he went for help.



Ah... well, I guess that can happen. The natives that we ran into were
extemely nice. At one point a fishing boat pulled up next to us at a lonely
lagoon. There were perhaps 10 on the boat. At first we were a bit nervous,
especially when a few of them got their skiff running and motored over to
us. We thought that best case, there were going to hit us up for booze or
money. Actually, they wanted to know if we had any books we weren't using
and soda we could spare. They got both, and later that night we could hear
them reading one of those cheap Harliquin romances novels out loud. The next
day, they offered to take us out to their fishing traps and to their camp,
so they could repay us and brag about their catch.

Another local told us that it would be foolhardy for them to assault
tourists, since everyone would know who did it and they would be caught
immediately.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Major difference between the two areas. St. Martin, St. Kitts, Barbuda and
that area are more for people who want to do some serious sailing. St.
Martin to anywhere but Anguilla is a good 9-10 hours of blue water. I am
not very impressed by the snorkeling on St. Martin but to shore side
resturants are not to be missed. Anguilla has some good snorkeling but the
island is flat scrub with some big resorts. Saba is interesting to explore
but no good snorkeling and poor anchorage. Some pretty fair snorkeling
south of St. Kitts and lots of good spots around Antigua. .

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
ink.net...
My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip. We
had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the
Bahamas,
or St Martin.

St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We can
sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

The diving looks more promising in Bahamas. However, the charter
companies
severely limit the cruising grounds to just a small radius.

How is the sailing in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
Bahamas?

Any thoughts on these choices as they relate to quality of diving and
quality of sailing?

I've learned that there really are a limited number of places where you
can
combine great diving with great sailing. I'm beginning to really
appreciate
my home waters, though they are chilly (So Cal Channel Islands).

Thanks,

Brien

Hey Glenn,

Thanks! You gave us some great advice before our trip to BVI and we had a
wonderful time.

-Brien


"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:X93xe.141957$sy6.19363@lakeread04...
Major difference between the two areas. St. Martin, St. Kitts, Barbuda
and
that area are more for people who want to do some serious sailing. St.
Martin to anywhere but Anguilla is a good 9-10 hours of blue water. I am
not very impressed by the snorkeling on St. Martin but to shore side
resturants are not to be missed. Anguilla has some good snorkeling but
the
island is flat scrub with some big resorts. Saba is interesting to
explore
but no good snorkeling and poor anchorage. Some pretty fair snorkeling
south of St. Kitts and lots of good spots around Antigua. .

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
ink.net...
My wife and I are trying to plan a combination sailing & diving trip.
We
had a fantastic trip to BVI last year, and we plan to do Tahiti in a few
years. We've narrowed our choice this year to either Abacos in the
Bahamas,
or St Martin.

St Martin looks like the more interesting sailing location to me. The
cruising grounds are much larger than what's available in Abacos. We
can
sail St Martin, St Nevis, St Barts, Antigua and Guadelope.

The diving looks more promising in Bahamas. However, the charter
companies
severely limit the cruising grounds to just a small radius.

How is the sailing in St Martin and the surrounding areas as compared to
Bahamas?

Any thoughts on these choices as they relate to quality of diving and
quality of sailing?

I've learned that there really are a limited number of places where you
can
combine great diving with great sailing. I'm beginning to really
appreciate
my home waters, though they are chilly (So Cal Channel Islands).

Thanks,

Brien